Gartrac produced the basic friend which have David Sutton who was simply the latest movie director regarding Clark & Simpson who had been Ford people inside Sloane Rectangular, London. The cars was indeed mainly simple without roll cages, although not Gartrac supplied uprated suspension system and you will running methods areas with the knowledge.
Before the start of new rally Dave Bignold are asked by the Ford traveling up to Clark & Simpson and complement rear surprise absorber turrets into the Rauno Aaltonen’s Ford Escort 1850 GT. The installation try complete easily more than a sunday and you can Aaltonen’s automobile try ready to participate about rally.
Throughout the early 1970s, Gartrac changed Escort Mk1 bodyshells having Clark & Simpson in the London
Brand new London area – Mexico Globe Glass rally come at Wembley Arena when you look at the London into April nineteenth 1970 coating up to sixteen,000 kilometers as a result of European countries and you will South usa and finishing during the Mexico Area may 27th 1970. Case was extremely profitable to have Ford with Hannu Mikola and you may Gunnar Hand winning the fresh new rally and you can Rauno Aaltonen and Henry Liddon doing 3rd.
Gartrac proceeded development parts with the Escort Mk1 rally autos. In the early 70s various other popular profit was Hannnu Mikkola and Gunnar Palm’s 1972 Safari Rally winnings on the Escort RS 1600. The two perform need a young direct which they never lost and turned the first low-African crew to help you profit new Eastern African Safari Rally.
1970s – The fresh Works Escort Mk2
These types of variations had been generally fitted wonder absorber turrets, material ripple arches and you will reworking axle’s. Gartrac carry out modify dos-step 3 bodyshells weekly for a lot of decades.
Gartrac was growing when you look at the character and the sheer volume of functions created that they needed to change from the small workshop into the Farnham, Surrey. It rapidly receive a different sort of big working area from inside the Godalming, Surrey, permitting them to accept alot more team, and thus their production increased significantly.
Ford had only brought out the brand new Escort Mk2 and realized Gartrac’s rapid growth. Ford wanted a fabrication team which could develop Escort Mk2 bodyshells and pieces for their really works rally class.
They need the latest Mk2 bodyshells getting similar having a system out-of pieces you to installing most of the auto; this was incorrect on Mk1. For each and every drivers’ auto mechanic would have her thought of an educated cure for make an auto, definition no one or two trucks certainly are the same. So it brought about trouble whenever repair the vehicles towards the events, while the pieces don’t fit widely.
The really works Escort Mk1 bodyshells was indeed fabricated from the Gomm Material Advancements. These shells was gas welded or nickel bronzed and that lay high temperature and worry into material, and that lead to distortion and you may stamina difficulties. Ford desired the brand new Escort Mk2 to-be welded utilizing the the new mig welding processes. Gartrac was using mig welders for a while which assisted secure a primary buy for 5 bodyshells becoming introduced to their exact requirements.
Gartrac properly complete the order and you may Ford is very happy with the standard of the design they instantly contracted Gartrac to help you solely write Escort Mk2 bodyshells toward really works party.
Ford plus commissioned Gartrac to produce bits that will standardise new mechanic’s Website create procedure. It fabricated a giant gang of pieces such as for instance axle’s, distance rods, pedalboxes, fuel tanks and petroleum tanks and suspension section.
Gartrac gotten a totally free reign during the time to provide suggestions on how Ford will make the cars greatest and they used its information slightly conveniently because the trucks was to-be less, stronger and a lot more reliable.
The new patterns were switching throughout the day. Gartrac will make improvement to the shaft to switch traction, Ford create upcoming revise drawings to incorporate the changes. They will next write different differences for Tarmac and you can Tree apps. A comparable techniques was utilized to grow other areas such as the motor crossmembers, sump secure sets, pedalboxes and you can suspension system bits.